Senate panel OKs charter school changes

Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 01:24 PM.

RALEIGH — Charter schools in North Carolina may soon be subject to the state's open records and meetings law as are other public schools.

A Senate education committee approved changes Wednesday that would make charter school and employee personnel records subject to public records and open meetings laws like employees of traditional public schools.

The bill would also remove fees for renewing a charter, and drop requirements that the Charter School Advisory Board make decisions in writing.

It would also allow schools with single gender missions to limit admission on the basis of boys and girls, which the previous version had banned.

Charter school teachers also would be allowed to serve on the school's board of directors as a non-voting member and make charter renewals valid for 10 years, unless specific conditions warrant a shorter charter.

One Democrat, Sen. Malcolm Graham, D-Mecklenburg, voted against it. Graham said the changes move charter school rules too far away from the original intent.

Committee chairman Sen. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph, said the changes are just meant to tweak the charter school vetting process to make it more effective and fair for everyone.

RALEIGH — Charter schools in North Carolina may soon be subject to the state's open records and meetings law as are other public schools.

A Senate education committee approved changes Wednesday that would make charter school and employee personnel records subject to public records and open meetings laws like employees of traditional public schools.

The bill would also remove fees for renewing a charter, and drop requirements that the Charter School Advisory Board make decisions in writing.

It would also allow schools with single gender missions to limit admission on the basis of boys and girls, which the previous version had banned.

Charter school teachers also would be allowed to serve on the school's board of directors as a non-voting member and make charter renewals valid for 10 years, unless specific conditions warrant a shorter charter.

One Democrat, Sen. Malcolm Graham, D-Mecklenburg, voted against it. Graham said the changes move charter school rules too far away from the original intent.

Committee chairman Sen. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph, said the changes are just meant to tweak the charter school vetting process to make it more effective and fair for everyone.

"We love charter schools, we love public schools. This is just tweaking the process. I want them all to have a fair shake," Tillman said.

The committee also approved a bill that would require the State Board of Education to identify students who have a member of their household in the military, to better facilitate them as they move school districts. It gives the principal of the school the authority to develop "means for serving the unique needs of students" who are connected to the military.